GUNUNGKIDUL, YOGYAKARTA -— At that time, from June 17-21, 2022, Dompet Dhuafa simultaneously dispatched QC teams to ensure that the sacrificial animals entrusted by THK donors were in prime condition. This time, the Dompet Dhuafa journalist team had the opportunity to follow the QC activities in the challenging area of Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta. This area, home to a string of exotic beaches, is one of the locations where Dompet Dhuafa donors will perform their sacrifices during the upcoming holiday.
It was not an easy task for the THK QC team from Dompet Dhuafa. On this occasion, Nurlailatul Badriyah and Ayu Septiana had to travel from village to village and over hills. Limited cellular signal for communication also characterized the journey of these two Dompet Dhuafa staff members. Moreover, the scattered locations of the livestock pens across several local farmers meant Ayu and Nur had to race against time. This was because they needed to weigh hundreds of sheep and goats according to the specified standards.
“This is indeed my second QC opportunity. But this trip was more exhausting because the locations we were inspecting were scattered, so we had to move from one location to another,” said Ayu Septiana, explaining her QC experience this time.
What’s more, for this QC, the THK Dompet Dhuafa team also had to comply with animal health procedures or protocols when entering the barn. Everyone who entered the barn was sprayed with disinfectant and sterilized. This measure was taken to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease. Although it does not infect humans, humans can be carriers of the disease.
THK Becomes a Lifeline for Small-Scale Farmers
Amidst the FMD outbreak, the market provided by Dompet Dhuafa through Tebar Hewan Kurban has become a source of support for small farmers in remote areas of the country. The closure of animal markets and the implementation of restrictions on the movement of livestock between regions have greatly disrupted small farmers. The flow of money in animal markets has stalled due to FMD.
However, on this Eid al-Adha, small farmers in remote areas are once again rejoicing. The presence of THK Dompet Dhuafa in their area has helped absorb the livestock they have and which they did not have time to market outside the area. The kindness of the donors and sacrificers at Dompet Dhuafa has brought a breath of fresh air to them.
“Alhamdulillah, there are sacrifices from Dompet Dhuafa. This collaboration is a breath of fresh air for us, the farmers in remote areas. Obviously, the PMK outbreak has made it quite difficult to market animals here. The animal market is closed and access to transportation for sacrificial animals is restricted. But the existence of Tebar Hewan Kuban has saved our economy,” explained Sulasno, one of the farmers under the guidance of THK Dompet Dhuafa in Jepitu, Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta.
Equitable Distribution of Sacrificial Meat & Empowering Small Farmers
Since its inception, Tebar Hewan Kurban has had a mission to distribute sacrificial meat to remote areas. Thus, sacrificial meat does not accumulate in urban areas alone. Considering that mosques in urban areas are filled with sacrificial animals ready to be slaughtered as a sign of a Muslim’s obedience to Allah SWT. However, this is not necessarily the case for communities in remote areas, who may only get to enjoy meat once a year. That is, the blessed meat from the distribution of sacrificial animals.
Over time, in addition to distributing sacrificial meat evenly, Dompet Dhuafa also initiated the empowerment of small-scale farmers. This made the distribution of THK sacrificial animals easier and more cost-effective. Therefore, Dompet Dhuafa created small livestock groups that became suppliers of sacrificial animals to remote areas. Through the Tebar Hewan Kurban program, Dompet Dhuafa not only ensures the equitable distribution of sacrificial meat but also empowers small-scale farmers in rural areas. Come on, while there’s still time, channel your best sacrifice at kurban.dompetdhuafa.org. (Dompet Dhuafa/Taufan YN)